First Full day on Program in Aukland

---

Breakfast this morning was a circus of a learning curve on how to do buffet breakfast for our selves since there were a large number of people trying to have breakfast at the same time. Adjustment-learning curve for everybody. We went to our morning lecture on the history of New Zealand, took a sail with with Pride of Aukland and saw beautiful views of the city from the water. For lunch we went to Eden Gardens and had a lovely light lunch, then walked through the garden to view the flowers. It was a lot like Buchart Gardens in Vitoria, BC. We drove up to Mt. Eden and then to the Aukland Memorial Museum. Mt. Eden is an extinct volcano.

---

Photos

The Pride of Aukland
The sailing ship on which we cruised Aukland harbour

our sails
Aren't we cool with blue and white striped sails?

Right under the Aukland Harbour Bridge
Sailing is exciting and envigorating!

Pink tree at Eden Gardens

beautiful flowers at Eden Gardens

Cow resting in crater
Mt Eden is an extinct volcano and this cow is grazing and resting here

Aukland skyline from Mt Eden
Mt Eden is an extinct volcano

Comments

[Sara Freeman]

Hi Mommy and Daddy! I'm reading the blog faithfully. It is the day before I go into the hospital and anticipation is high! I hope you are able to get the email I sent with photos from Halloween. If not, say so on a blog entry or when we talk on the phone in the next few days and we'll figure out another way to send photos from both Halloween and the birth. love you, Sara

[Sara]

Hello, world travelers!
Dear Marty and John, This is basically unbelievable, being able to communicate like this. I am still in shock about the $200 orange. I can only hope the money is NOT equal (or greater) than American money. I would be in tears, by that point. Jessica came over and yesterday my mom and my sister Heather and I went shopping with her for a wedding dress. You would have been a help, but somehow we struggled on without you. My sister bought her a garter (blue) and a tiara (new) and I am loaning her my veil (borrowed) (or old, take your pick) and the dress looks good on her. Did i tell you she is going to be cooking all the food with her mom right before the wedding? To give you a sticker shock, (now think back to your Sara's wedding) we gave her $1000 to do the whole wedding with, and she is going to do it (not including the dress, which my mom and sister paid for.) OK, better eat your orange before you faint from shock. Got Rachel a dress to wear as a "bridesmaid" (all the girls are just wearing a "little black dress" and Rachel looks like a million bucks in it. Got it a Ross for $24 after looking at EVERY black dress in the ENTIRE Three rivers mall. My feet are still in recovery mode. Sounds like you are having a lovely "spring" down there. Hope to hear from you again soon! (maybe you should have the orange bronzed!) Love, Sara